The UAE Ministry of Education has announced the introduction of a mandatory Artificial Intelligence – AI Curriculum – across all public schools, from kindergarten through Grade 12, starting in the 2025–2026 academic year.
This landmark move positions the UAE among the first nations globally to embed AI education across all student levels, underscoring the country’s ambition to lead in digital transformation and AI innovation.
“Our responsibility is to equip our children for a time unlike ours… with new skills and capabilities,” said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
In a message on X, Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the importance of preparing youth with both technical and ethical understanding of AI, including data, algorithms, risks, and societal impacts.
Seven Pillars of the AI Curriculum
The new AI curriculum will cover seven key areas:
- Foundational AI concepts
- Data and algorithms
- Software and real-world use
- Ethical understanding
- Innovation and project design
- Policy awareness
- Community engagement
The programme will be age-specific, starting with interactive AI stories and play in kindergarten, and evolving into project-based innovation and command engineering in secondary grades.
“This is a strategic step that modernises our education system and equips students with skills for future challenges,” said Sarah Al Amiri, UAE Minister of Education.
The curriculum will not add extra hours to school days but will be taught within the Computing, Creative Design, and Innovation subject by specially trained teachers. The Ministry of Education will provide full guides, lesson plans, and activity models for implementation.
Strategic partnerships to support national AI goals
The curriculum was developed with input from key tech and academic partners, including:
- Presight (a G42 company)
- AI71
- Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence
- Emirates College for Advanced Education
Together, they aim to support a future-ready education system, aligned with the UAE’s long-term strategy to build a skilled, AI-literate society and sustain national development.
This initiative also supports the goals of the D33 Economic Agenda and the UAE’s broader National AI Strategy 2031, reinforcing its ambition to be a global leader in artificial intelligence and digital literacy.
